But these put on their trousers, So Not to spoil their hose. As soon as he rose, To make him strong and mighty, He drank, by the tale, six pots of ale And a quart of aqua-vitæ. It is not strength that always wins, Which made our cunning champion Creep down into a well, Where he did think this dragon would drink, And so he did in truth; And as he stoop'd low, he rose up and cried, boh! Oh, quoth the dragon with a deep sigh, Sobbing and tearing, cursing and swearing Out of his throat of leather: More of More-hall, O thou rascal, Would I had seen thee never; With the thing at thy foot thou hast prick'd my throat, And I'm quite undone for ever. Murder, murder, the dragon cried, Alack, alack, for grief; Had you but miss'd that place, you could Have done me no mischief. is head he shaked, trembled and quaked, down he laid and cried; n one knee, then on back tumbled he; roan'd, and kick'd, and died. Old Ballad CXLVII THE UNGRATEFUL CUPID dead of night, when mortals lose heir various cares in soft repose, heard a knocking at my door: Who's that,' said I, 'at this late hour sturbs my rest?' It sobb'd and cried, nd thus in mournful tone replied, - poor, unhappy child am I, hat's come to beg your charity; ay, let me in. You need not fear; nean no harm, I vow and swear; t, wet and cold, crave shelter here; tray'd by night, and led astray, e lost, alas! I've lost my way.' oved with this little tale of fate, ook a lamp, and oped the gate! hen, see! a naked boy before e threshold; at his back he wore pair of wings, and by his side crooked bow and quiver tied. ly pretty angel! come,' said I, ome to the fire, and do not cry?' troked his neck and shoulders bare, d squeez'd the water from his hair; Then chafed his little hands in mine, 6 Are these your thanks, ungrateful child, Are these your thanks?' The impostor smiled. 'Farewell, my loving host,' says he, All's well; my bow's unhurt, I see; But what a wretch I've made of thee!' nture in to swim, Ito drink at the brim ; eds the Crocodile lay, his tail and swept him away. your boat, I pray, wer lies my way, ow in Crocodilople, reat city remain ; eds is his whole domain. ere he passes his days, and fasts and prays; ious and meek and mild, man, woman, or child. Trocodiles never does wrong, and strong, rke and slay, ear what I say. complain was wickedly slain; odles he is good, murderer's blood.' woman. no; ddy fing mendile King' 'Then lend me now your little boat, And I will down the river float, I tell thee that no worldly thing Shall keep me from the Crocodile King. 'The King of the Crocodiles he is good, And therefore will give me blood for blood; Being so mighty and so just, He can revenge me, he will, and he must.' The woman she leapt into the boat, The King of the Crocodiles there was seen; The woman shook every limb with fear She fell upon her bended knee, And said, 'O King, have pity on me, And that's the loss that makes me wild. 'A crocodile ate him for his food: Now let me have the murderer's blood; And tru |